Annapolis delays action on downtown sprinkler mandate after timeline, resource and funding concerns

The Annapolis Economic Matters Committee on Dec. 18 postponed action on ordinance 03224, a proposed update to the city’s fire sprinkler requirements that would clarify that mixed-use buildings with commercial ground floors and residences above must be sprinklered and would set a deadline for compliance.

Committee members and city fire officials debated the length and cost of the sprinkler-installation process, the city’s permitting capacity and available financial assistance for property owners. Kevin Budzapata, who oversees the City of Annapolis Fire Marshal's Office, said the ordinance language "clarifies that commercial means mixed use," and that the office supports sprinklers as a safety measure. Charles Ruth, the city's fire protection engineer, described the typical process for adding sprinklers: hire an architect and fire-protection engineer, develop design and bid documents, bring in mechanical/electrical/plumbing trades, and submit permits. "All sprinkler systems are gonna be required to have monitoring through fire alarm," Ruth said, and he outlined typical review timelines including an initial department review turnaround of about two weeks and additional time if resubmittals are required.

Officials and committee members stressed that much of the time required to add sprinklers occurs before the government permit process — in hiring design and installation contractors and developing bid documents — and estimated that a full project from early design through installation could take about a year to 18 months for a single building. The committee was told the city currently has pre-application meetings to vet plans in advance but that the fire marshal’s office does not have resources to conduct an initial on-site walkthrough for every building. Budzapata said pre-application meetings and a one-page FAQ are being used to improve the process.

Committee members pressed for hard counts and funding information. The fire marshal’s office reported that, among the 96 buildings counted on Main Street and Francis Street, 51 have sprinklers and 45 do not. The ordinance references a February 28, 2022 date that sets a five-year compliance deadline (2027), and some committee members said they would consider extending that deadline: "I think that if we could extend that due date, due date, to give time to the building owners... I think that's a pretty good idea," one member said. The fire marshal's office said it originally recommended a 10-year timeline; the committee asked staff to include that history in the record.

Members voted to postpone the ordinance to the committee’s next hearing and requested an updated staff report. The chair asked staff to add the amount of money available in the city's sprinkler-assistance fund, a current count of noncompliant buildings, and the fire marshal's office's original recommendation on an alternative deadline. Committee members also asked that planning and zoning staff attend the next meeting to answer permitting questions and that the fire marshal provide additional data to Ms. Reuter for the updated staff report.

The committee did not adopt the ordinance at the Dec. 18 hearing; the action on 03224 was postponed to allow staff follow-up and additional department participation.